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Toure treatment is ‘revenge’, claims ‘betrayed’ agent

Yaya Toure: Charged with drink-driving

Yaya Toure’s agent Dimitri Seluk has taken another swipe at Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola over the ongoing treatment of his client.

Seluk has claimed he has tried to talk to both Guardiola and City director of football Txiki Begiristain about settling their differences but is continuing to get the cold shoulder.

Now Seluk has launched into another lengthy rant as Yaya Toure remains sidelined whilst his contract winds down.

“When Yaya was left out of the Champions League squad, I called Pep,” Seluk told the Daily Mirror.

“I wanted to ask him his reasons, but he didn’t call me back. I also tried to call Txiki — but he didn’t call me back either. So I don’t think the club can criticise me for doing an interview in the newspaper when they wouldn’t even talk to me.

“Pep talks about respect. But to get respect you have to show it. Before City played at the Nou Camp, I called Pep again. I wanted to ask him if we could meet for talks while he was in Barcelona.

“I also called Txiki. But nothing came back. I sent them texts also, but again there was nothing back. I have the phone records to prove this.

“I was not making contact to apologise — but neither Pep nor Txiki knew this. Why should I apologise when I am guilty of nothing but telling the truth?

“My idea was to talk man-to-man, to find out how we can move things forward for the best interests of Manchester City and Yaya.

“All I got was silence. So it must be clear to everyone that Pep isn’t looking for an apology.

“It is about him turning [owner] Sheikh Mansour and the City fans against a player who loves the club.

“Pep is allowing his ego to make decisions that aren’t in the best interests of Manchester City.

“I know what his problem is. When Pep forced Yaya out of Barcelona I criticised him. This is his revenge. And it is personal, not professional.

“I asked City in the summer if they wanted Yaya to leave and was told that he was part of the plan.

“Pep doesn’t want to work with men. He wants to work with players who are very young because he can control them like children.

“Pep smiles at you. He makes you believe he is your best friend — and then he betrays you.”